MINNEAPOLIS - The U.S. Ambassador to Libya killed in an attack this week was "one of the most beloved American diplomats," according to a University of Minnesota leader.
Eric Schwartz took over as dean of the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota last October. Prior to that, Schwartz served as the Assistant Secretary of State for Population Refugees and Migration.
Schwartz said he immediately thought of his former colleagues when he learned about the Libyan attacks and murders, which included the death of Ambassador Chris Stevens.
"The first thing I did was call my former colleagues at the State Department," he said.
Schwartz said he worked extensively with Stevens, particularly in the days, weeks and months following the Libyan revolution last year.
"He was an American diplomat in the finest tradition of American diplomats," Schwartz said.
"He was a stellar diplomat deeply committed to the process of political reform in Libya, deeply committed to promoting U.S. interests in that part of the world and he did so with determination, with discipline, with integrity," Schwartz added. "And I think all Americans can feel that he served our interests in the very best tradition."
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